Telephone



NOV. 6, 1928. 1,690,634

F. c. GREENE I TELEPHONE Filed Aug. 26, 1927 awuzutoz J? 6 Greene Quota013 Patented Nov. 6, 1928. v

UNITED STATES FBEDERIC CECI L GREENE, 0F ATLANTA,

GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR OI FbUR-TEIlTHS TO FRANK BRANAN, 0F MAC ON, GEORGIA.

' TELEPHONE.

Application filed August 26, 1927.- Serial No. 215,683.

This invention relates to improvements in telephones of that type inwhich the receiver and transmitter are combined with a hand-piece toprovide a unitar set. In previous devices of this type, owing to theunbalanced distribution of weight in the parts, particulariy in thestandard for supporting the unitary hand set, the structures have beenfound to be unsatisfactoryfor desk service, as they are easily upset andthe hand sets are easily dislodged from their supports by slight shocksand jars accidentally imparted to the instrument by the movement ofmaterial onthe desks. Also, where instruments of the foregoing type orof the type in ordinary use are employed for desk service, much troubleis experienced with the cords or cables carrying the service wires. Thecords become twisted or tangled with the litter of material that usuallycucumbers a desk to the impairment of "the service providedby theinstrument.

One of theobjects of the instant invention is to provide a mounting forthe unitary hand set in which the weight of the constituent parts is sodistributed as to prevent easy upsetting of the instrument and also toprevent accidental displacement of the hand set from its support.Another object of the invention is to provide a reel mecha-' nismautomatically operating to wind in the slack of the cord or cablebetween thebellbox and the instrument and also the slack between thesupporting standard and the hand set. lVhile the reel .mechanism isparticularly adapted to instruments of the unitary hand set type, yet itis also'adapted to instruments of the ordinary type. r

The means employed for carrying out the foregoing objects are describedin detail hereinafter, pointed out in the appended claims andillustrated by the accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing, in which similar reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts,

Figure 1 is a view of a telephone instrument of the unitary hand settype embodying-the invention, showing the same partly in elevation andpartly in vertical section.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view, showing the leads fromone of the cable wires to the terminals of the circuit closer.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the

supporting standard for the telephone set comprises the hollow base 5provided with a flat'bottom so that the set can be readily slid on thetop of a desk or other flat support. Extending upwardly from the baseand to one side thereof is the tubular column 6 with its wall inintegral extension with the wall of the base. The upper end of thecolumn is closed by the conical cap 7 secured thereon. Extending fromthe upper part of the vertical column 6 is the horizontal hollow arm 8projecting over the base 5 and having at its extremity the upright fork9. Mounted within the column 6 is the rod 10 extending through theconical cap 7 and having at its upper end the fork 11 in horizontalalinement with the fork 9. The rod is vertically movable in the column,being guided therein bythe cap 7 and the plates 12 and 13 in spacedrelation and secured within the column. Surrounding the rod is thecoiled spring 14 compressed between the plate 12 and the collar 15secured on the rod, the spring normally tending to raise the rod. At itslower end the'rod. is formed of insulating material, as at 16, for apurpose that will be explained fur ther on.

The receiver 17 and the transmitter 18 are of, usual construction, andare mounted on the hand-piece 19 to form a unitary hand set. At itsopposite ends the hand-piece is pro vided with annular grooves, as at20, to fit loosely the forks 9 and 11. When the handpiece is placed inthe forks, the weight of the set in the fork 11 depresses the rod 10against the action of the spring 14, which is compressed thereby. Whenthe hand-piece is lifted from the forks the spring returns the rod toits raised position. The downward movement of the rod forces. theinsulation 16 at its lower end between the two spring terminals 21included in the telephone circuit and thereby the circuit is broken.These terminals normally tendto spring together to close the circuitwhen the rod 10 is raised by the spring 14. The two terminals aremounted in the insulating block 22, insulated from each other and fromthe angle plate 23 to which the block is attached. The two terminals areelectrically connected with the wires 24 of the cord 25 leading fromthecall box 26 to the hand set in the usual manner. The circuit may formpart of an automatic system, as

indicated by :dotted lines, 27 to the dial 28 mounted on the exterior ofthe base 5;

In the foregoing construction, the base 5 is provided ,with considerablearea or: con:-

tact with the desk top to lessen :the tendencyof the instrument tooverturn. The tubular column 6 is mounted on one side of the :base.

5 and the horizontal arm 8 extends over the base. the forks 9 and 11,the center of gravity or the set is in close proximity to the fork 11 sothat-considerable part or the weight of the setis carried by the fork11. As the fork 11 is part ofthe rod 10,.the dow ward movement of therod against the action-oat thespringjle is assured when the; handpieceis placed in the forks. Also, the arm 8 "carrying the extended part orth'ehand set over-the'base 5, tends to balance the m- StlLtHlGIl t' andto prevent; accidental tilting 'w-inding'the, slack parts or "the cord,upon 7 reels mounted in the base orthe set. .5

In -the-base 5, at a central part thereof, is mounted the tubularvertical bearing 29 between the bottom of the base and'the angle plate23. On this bearing are journaled the-upper and lower reels 30 and 31,respectiVelyQ Each reel is provided'with a coiled" spring 32normallytending to rotate the reel 'on the vertical b earing in' onedirection: Between the two reels the division plate 3'3is fixed on tl-1et-ubular bearing-.- On

;--t he'--upper reel 30 is I wound the slack of that partor the ,cord 25leading from the base: of the set to the hand-piece 19;; on the lower Ireel is'wound the slack of that partbrthe cord leading to thebell-boxIn, the equipment :or a desk with the telephone set, the bell-box 26isfmount-ed on a side-of the desk (notshown) in an out of the way placeand the set is positionedon the topof the desk within reach or a, sub-"scri-benseated atthegdeski' This position ofthe set is also closelyadj-acent to the bell-box.

In-1the normal inoperative positi-on or the set the handp iece 1-9 restsin the forks 9ancl 11 and its weight depresses the rod 10so that theinsula-tio rlo,rorces apart the spring arms 21 or the'circuit closer andthereby the electric connection with the set In using theset, thesubscriber is broken, 7 slides it along-the desktop to a handyposition.As the set is'inoved away from the With the handpiec'e 19'positionedb'el-l ibox connection, that part of the cord between the connection andthe base of the set is drawn oil the reel 31, the latterturningugainstthe-action its. spring; :82 to release. the cord. Thespring maintains tension on the cord, but it is not sufiicient to movethe set. Thesubscriber then lifts the hand-piece 19 from its rest andpositions it fer conversationalpurposes. In this movement or" thehand-piece, that part of the cord leading from the base or the set tothe hand-piece is drawn oil the upper-reel 30, which turns against theaction ott'fits spring 32 to unwind the cord. When the handpi-eceislirtedrroin its supports, the spring 1d moves the released rod 10 upwardto withdrawthe insulation 16' rrom between the spring arms 21, whichmove into contact and close the circuit through the set. Whenthe-handpiece 1s returned'to its rest and the setshoved toward thebell-box, the

reels through the action of theirsprings rewind their respective partsof thecord so that there ,are-no loose parts to become entangled withdesk material orto become twisted andkinked. As the base or the setcovers considerable area and as the several parts are in balanced"relation to the base,

the liability or'the instrument to upset is lessened,

The cord continuous from one reel to the other and where it passesthrough 'the'dii ision plate 33, as'at 34, it is fixed with relationtothe tubular bearing 29. It is from this fixed part'th'at the leadsQdextend from one or the wires to 'th'e spring arms2l, or thecircuit-closer. Wheneither reel winds a cord on its barrel, it forms acompensating coil between the reel and thedivision plate 33. Thepurposeof thediwision plate is'to separate the compensating coils of one reelfrom those of the other to prevent interference between thesame;

' WVhat I claim is: i I

'1. In a telephone instrument, the combination witha standard-comprisinga hollow base of extensive-seating area, a tubular column' extendingupwardrrom the base in oilset'relation tothe; center of the base, anarme tendi-rm horizontally from the upper part of the-caumn andprojecting diametrically across the base, a fork on the extremity of thearm, a rod movably mounted in thevertical column, a second fork on theupper end of the rod and horizontallyalined with the for-k attheendfofthe horizontal arm, a spring normally pressing the rod upward inthe Vertical column, a unitary-hand set adapted to be placed in saidforks and op erating by its weight to depress the movable rod againstthe action of the spring, the offset col umn and the horizontal armoperating to support the handset diametrically across the base tobalance tlie weight aofthe hand carrying the parallel wires is i setwith relation to the center of the base, an electric circuit for thehand set including a circuit closer positioned in the vertical column tobe opened by the downward movement of the rod.

2. In a telephone instrument, the combination of a hand set and anelectric circuit therefor, with a supporting standard for the set havingahollow base, a bearing in the hollow base, separate sprlng-drlven reelsjournaled in the base on the bearing there in, and an insulating cordfor the circuit wires of the instrument leading through the hollow baseto the hand set and having an intermediate part in fixed relation to thebearing between the reels, one of the reels operating to wind the slackof the cord leading into the hollow base and the other of the reelsoperating to wind the slack of the cordvbetween the fixed-part thereofand the hand set.

3. In a telephone instrument, the combination of a hand set and anelectric circuit therefor, with a supporting standard for the set havinga hollow base, a bearing in the hollow base, separate spring-drivenreels journaled in the base on the bearing there in, an insulating cordfor the circuit wires of the instrument leading through the hollow baseto the hand set and having an intcrmediatepart in fixed relation to thebearing between the reels, and a division plate mounted on the bearingbetween the reels,

one of the reels operating to wind the slack ot' the cord leading intothe hollow base and the other of the reels operating to wind the slackof the cord between the fixed part thereof and the hand set, thedivision plate operating to separate the compensating coils the bearingby the ing in the hollow base, separate spring driven reels journaled inthe base on the tubular bearing, and an insulating cord for the circuitwires of the instrument leading through the hollow base to the hand setand having an intermediate part in fixed relation to the tubular bearingbetween the reels, one of the reels operating to wind the slack of thecord leading into the hollow base and the other of the reels operatingthe slack of the cord between the fixed part thereof and the hand set. i

5. In a telephone instrument, the combination of a standard comprising abase having an extensive seating area, a column on the base in offsetrelation to the center of the base, the seated base operating tomaintain the column upright, a horizontal arm projecting from the columndiametrically across the base, and forks respectively mounted on theupper end of the column and on the outer end of the horizontal arm, saidforks being horizontally alined; with a unitary hand set adapted to beplaced in the forks and including a handle having annular grooves at theends to register with the engaged forks, said offset column and thehorizontal arm operating to support the hand set placed in the forksdiametrically across the base to balance the weight of the hand set withrelation to the base.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

FREDERIC CECIL GREENE.

